[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6478158,"mediaKeyId","5710181-849477b07b0cced51e944c2eee57106e","parentId",5710181,"title","Votes at a glance: Emmons County commissioners approve permits, tax abatement and utility permits","audioSeconds",2450,"startMs",220000,"endMs",2670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710181-849477b07b0cced51e944c2eee57106e&start=220&end=2670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710181-849477b07b0cced51e944c2eee57106e/thumbnail_220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478158/Emmons-County/North-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-Emmons-County-commissioners-approve-permits-tax-abatement-and-utility-permits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478158-8df4bbfd49fac2b5688e6a6eede0d603/orig.mp4?Expires=1775565167&Signature=lcGVgfeXrV5qhe2E73YIqYGvKKDHEMUk0F9TlnSIP0wTJm5LBxcc5gtUK4ikSjVBcRnkTC9O7ZNLWmK5wM~Gk72hhSOjBjZDgjgdcmJ9eIXH2r-tqLfkT3446kvljpninCyOaimGYOH52FMyUGgJJql4vAbKSlUJHpQ1Q5iexkhdKOx82Mo203Alu6FK5dd2AMw0QIZM7iUZe9wgnKNj3QQjqUpEzOv7kZUnkRu8p364GeJuIl3n22hKdTR9XS7kUuE73xNkhbbZrg~uQLxvXBZtbv~Nrlow-8jRtEKDDguNp3EBCbwqCsMiRGN6sS5bq5~hedAvbJmc1M-awol9og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Emmons County, KS","date","2025-09-03T13:15:07Z","article","Emmons County Commissioners handled a series of routine agenda items and recorded votes on Sept. 9. Highlights of approved items include:

- Approval of minutes: Commissioners approved the prior meeting minutes by voice vote.

- County delegate and bank signatory: The board approved adding Marlena Hartsey Kelch as a county delegate/signatory for bank copies of approved minutes (motion carried).

- Building permits (contingent approvals): A building permit was approved for Tanner and Natasha Dosh for a 28-by-46 family residence on Lot 5, Walter's Subdivision (approval contingent on Western Plains septic approval). A separate permit for a 55-by-46 residence with attached garage for Andrew Better was also approved.

- AT&T Mobility: Commissioners approved a building permit for AT&T Mobility to upgrade equipment on an existing cell tower (location recorded by section/township/range in the minutes).

- Tax abatement: A tax abatement for parcel number 52-0013-00783-000 for tax year 2025 was approved (motion by a commissioner; motion carried).

- Raffle permit: The board approved a raffle permit for the District 8 Republican Party of North Dakota to hold a gun raffle and related events at Hazleton School (date not specified in minutes).

- Utility permits: The county approved utility permits for South Central Regional Water District to install a 10-inch and a 12-inch PVC pipeline in connection with the Napoleon MTL expansion.

All motions were carried by voice vote; staff will file the signed minutes and process permits in the county record. Several building permits were approved subject to receipt of required third-party inspections or septic approvals as noted in the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Emmons County Commission Meeting 9/2/25 pt 1","oneSentenceSummary","On Sept. 9 the Emmons County Commissioners approved minutes and a series of routine permits and actions including building permits (conditional), a tax abatement, an AT&T equipment upgrade at an existing tower, a raffle permit and utility permits for the South Central Regional Water District.","taxTitle","Emmons County, North Dakota","taxId",77577,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478163,"Emmons County approves contract to crush 50,000 tons of gravel; commissioners favor 50/50 flex-funding approach",6862,3038000,9900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710181-849477b07b0cced51e944c2eee57106e&start=3038&end=9900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710181-849477b07b0cced51e944c2eee57106e/thumbnail_3038000.jpg","/articles/6478163/Emmons-County/North-Dakota/Emmons-County-approves-contract-to-crush-50000-tons-of-gravel-commissioners-favor-5050-flex-funding-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478163-6a77c6b549ea5004b47035271c93296f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775565167&Signature=QPd3jA7gXBFmdZCm4Xv0tvBoOllhYiQkRytSg22lvEQH6AbGJ5D2T9D0~2FjQydKfR1-h1buEijMTpD55xiuAlcaB5Zg0zUq1oUlyILmsVSGHSrnCerblnXhNa1-96nWTwPZZFOgbgUjYIK2AyOSKTXe7uo1dB2HW34-3ne-ITPyZmMSqo~9uJb43v5JvYfPp9Ppjh95d~wiWoeI7rp4oq8t5TgEimdH~SLiWTxmlQVr3iZcvunkN7t8W80RjsUaS16QfjFrKoupszJhpyrV9bLfOJ7F9Xol-TmTWndR5mxkhSUc1kHktrUeU4ai2J~wNeSPdD9XffFhDkPlSmiXAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emmons County Commissioners approved a contract on Sept. 9 with RTS Shearing to crush 50,000 tons of gravel (25,000 tons class 13 and 25,000 tons class 5) at a not-to-exceed price of approximately $450,000. County road staff and consultants had presented flex-funding application options and the commission discussed how to blend federal-aid, flex funds and county levy funds to execute a large crush this fall.

Why it matters: Commissioners and the road department said adding crushed material will support several federal-aid and county-maintained roads that are in poor condition. The county considered two grant-match options: a high-match option that would ask for 99% flex funding and a lower-request option more like a 50/50 split with county federal-aid funds; commissioners indicated a preference for the 50/50 approach as the best chance of selection and of using existing engineering approvals.

John Martin, who presented the flex-funding timeline, told commissioners the application deadline is imminent: \"The applications are due here in approximately 2 weeks, September 19.\" Martin explained two funding approaches, saying, \"Option 1 is the county, to get the construction going would contribute 1%, and then we would ask for 99% for flex funds. And then option 2 is more like the 2023 request, where it's kinda 50 50.\"

Road supervisor Russ Lawler and other staff described current inventory at county pits, remaining leased material and testing requirements. Commissioners and staff discussed sequencing: staff asked about invoicing and whether crushing could be invoiced late in the year so some costs could be paid from 2025 appropriations and the remainder in 2026 if needed. RTS Shearing staff indicated flexibility on invoicing to accommodate the county's budget schedule.

Commission action and implementation: The commission voted to enter a contract with RTS Shearing for the described 50,000-ton crush (25,000 tons class 13 and 25,000 tons class 5) up to $450,000. County staff will work with the vendor to complete pit testing, provide material specifications, and confirm schedule and invoicing. Staff said they will try to have loads crushed and staged before winter if weather allows.

Funding and next steps: Commissioners discussed drawing on remaining federal-aid balances and recent flex-fund allocations, as well as permit and other county revenues, to cover the crush cost without raising the mill levy farther than planned. The board also discussed longer-term road projects (engineered designs previously approved) and agreed the 50/50 flex-match approach gives the county the best chance to win a flex award while still using federal-aid funds effectively.

Votes recorded: Motion to contract RTS Shearing for up to $450,000 to crush specified quantities and classes of gravel carried; staff will return with final vendor paperwork and an invoicing schedule that aligns with county budget constraints.

Implementation risk and timeline: Staff rated the project implementation risk as \"medium\" because material testing, pit yield and weather (seasonal crushing window) could affect schedule. If crushed this fall, material will be stockpiled for use on the county's prioritized roads in 2025 and 2026.","After weeks of discussion about flex funding options for road projects, Emmons County Commissioners approved a contract with RTS Shearing to crush 25,000 tons of class-13 and 25,000 tons of class-5 gravel, up to $450,000, and discussed funding mixes using federal-aid, flex funds and county levies.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478168,"Emmons County commissioners deny petition to close section line near Linton; order encroachments removed",2322,888000,3210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710181-849477b07b0cced51e944c2eee57106e&start=888&end=3210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710181-849477b07b0cced51e944c2eee57106e/thumbnail_888000.jpg","/articles/6478168/Emmons-County/North-Dakota/Emmons-County-commissioners-deny-petition-to-close-section-line-near-Linton-order-encroachments-removed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478168-cf6bedd223dab850632ed6aa555afd5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775565167&Signature=kqblbNU2jkXrIRefRPva6oaa0Y8OFtp-9AiBbf3ux7o~sIN4iEfNGuRgzUCZD0pNLkCNIl7vFCd6hUGghatPOde~oZXr2YPNcUlIS~kzRgbnXkP1Go~3ByEMKFW8ammyYGy8vx~oMQIxN70sNImmFVElMFBTWMGTsvE3gx4LvrqttsUfKuWQSScsinj62hOH2eihHG6DmoY9hmqFj9QyCVadNi5bBdxV-W1dabshpKzUEluw8h7jLl0jneGyBYgJ~TN2QblSRE1nKHahfvSY835Wfh5WMn71qzjfWSsN158deDwNwxxTGfjTr0v-ICGDdVPEzkOVb35IBSNB9GZMQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emmons County Commissioners on Sept. 9 denied a petition to close a section line that runs east from the southwest corner of Section 17, Township 132, Range 76, following a public hearing in which neighboring landowners said the line provides essential access and petitioners said the line is effectively unusable.

The petition was brought by Kenny Joltan; commissioners voted to deny the closure and separately voted to direct county staff to send certified letters to the landowner(s) with encroachments on the section line ordering removal of materials to restore the 33-foot clear right-of-way.

Why it matters: Petitioners asked to close the section line to allow planting and private use; neighbors and users said that closing the line would cut off access to a sizeable portion of farm ground and to seasonal grazing and renter access. Commissioners said the record now shows visible encroachment on the public right-of-way and that the county cannot leave known encroachments unaddressed.

At the hearing, Joltan described his purpose for the petition as limited and practical. \"I'm not here to cause any problems or anything stepping on anybody's toes. I just wanted to plant some trees on the section line that goes nowhere,\" he said. Several neighbors and family members said the section line remains the most viable access to upper portions of parcels and to pasture ground after floods.

\"Our biggest concern is, in overall, is getting access to that piece of property, which is a huge amount of their acreage. It's also the access to that upper, portion of the property, from Highway 83,\" said Mark Andrews, who identified himself as the son-in-law of landowner Leo Karabosch. Andrews described annual spring flooding and times when the spillway road across low ground has been the only practical access for cattle and for renters who work the property.

Speakers raised technical obstacles to reopening the section line as a passable road: several residents and staff noted watercourses, beaver and creek crossings, offset culvert work near a former railroad bed and steep grades that would make building an all-season approach expensive and potentially subject to state approval. County staff and the commission discussed that establishing a drivable approach in some places would require new culverts and coordination with state road authorities because of the line's proximity to Highway 83 and the historic railroad right-of-way.

Commission action and follow-up: The commission voted to deny the petition to close the section line. The board also approved a motion that certified letters be sent to the private property owner(s) encroaching on the section line requiring removal of temporary and semi-permanent material so the county's 33-foot right-of-way is clear. County staff said the letters will be prepared and sent by certified mail; staff will work with the county attorney and road supervisor to identify precisely what must be removed and to confirm the encroachment locations by survey where necessary.

What remains unresolved: Petitioners and neighbors discussed private easements and the possibility of negotiated access agreements in place of a formal section-line closure. Commissioners and staff noted that improving an approach over the old railroad bed or across low ground would likely require additional engineering, potential easements and, in some spots, state approval for approaches off Highway 83. The county did not authorize road construction to build an all-weather approach during this meeting.

Votes at the meeting on this item were recorded as carried; staff will follow up with certified-notice letters and will coordinate any required surveys or legal steps to document the encroachments and next steps.","After a public hearing with farm neighbors and the petitioner, Emmons County Commissioners voted to deny a request to close a section line near Linton and directed staff to notify landowners to remove encroachments at least 33 feet from the centerline.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Emmons County commissioners approve permits, tax abatement and utility permits

Emmons County approves contract to crush 50,000 tons of gravel; commissioners favor 50/50 flex-funding approach

Emmons County commissioners deny petition to close section line near Linton; order encroachments removed